Useful Pages

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Bookpage.com recently reported that televsion network "...ABC is developing a series adaptation of author Pat Conroy's [novel] The Prince of Tides."

While there are no details on when the series will be coming to a TV near you, in the interim you can always pick up the movie adaptation of The Prince of Tides, starring Nick Nolte and Barbra Streisand, or peruse one of Conroy's many other works.

Conroy's most recent novel, published in 2009, is South of Broad, set in Charleston, South Carolina.

Conroy also has a new book scheduled for publication in November of 2010,

Just in time for the fall season, the library has received new editions of Walks in Wellesley: Exploring Open Space and Trails. First published almost 40 years ago by The Wellesley Conservation Council, a private organization.

Walks in Wellesley has been totally revised, the councils objective has been to view the trails with fresh eyes reflecting their current condition . Some of the trails include Gurnsey Sanctuary, Pickle Point, and Cronk's Rocky Woodlland. The trail map has been revised as well. Copies may be purchased from the Wellesley Conservation Council.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Yes, I know. Speeches just don't cut it these days. But even if sitting down and listening to Roosevelt's Pearl Harbor speech after dinner doesn't quite appeal, maybe Nixon's Checkers speech would perk you up after a hard day's work. Or Walter Payton's Hall of Fame speech. Find these and about 5000 others at AmericanRhetoric.com, the creation of Michael Eidenmuller. For many of the 20th century speeches, audio and video are available in addition to the text. (The video of Socrates' Apology is inexplicably absent.) Website design is perhaps not Prof. Eidenmuller's specialty, but looks and bells and whistles aside, this is a great web site for finding inspirational and historically significant speeches--and just browsing for fun. The speeches are arranged alphabetically (by first name!) and in some special topics like 9/11, Obama and Top 100. There is also a section of movie speeches where you will find speeches by movie title. And students, remember: speeches are primary sources!--RL

Monday, September 20, 2010

Most of us are familiar with J.K. Rowling as the author of the phenomenally popular and successful Harry Potterseries of books (and movies). However, Ms. Rowling is now making news for a different reason: she has just donated $15.4 million to to found a clinic at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland that will offer treatment of and research into multiple sclerosis, the disease to which she lost her mother.

CBS News.com reports Rowling, a longtime Edinburgh resident, as saying that she had "...been looking for a way to give something meaningful back to the city for a long time..," and that she could not "...think of anything more important, or of more lasting value, than to help the university..." CBS also notes that Rowling has attributed one of the Potter books' main themes, that of a child dealing with loss, to the death of her mother, for whom the clinc will be named.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Stay tuned each month as we feature one of the online resources that we make available to Wellesley residents. You may access all of our online resources by selecting "Databases" in the Minuteman Library Catalog. Most of the online resources may be used from home with a library card.

AskArt provides information on nearly 200,000 artists from the early 16th century; images of artworks; art appraisals; International auction records; museum references; and links to websites. Teachers, students, and art lovers have all found it very useful.

Take a peek by clicking on the title or logo above. Some of the information may be seen for free. For full access, it must be used in the library. See a Reference Librarian for more information. SH

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Google never stops looking for new features to keep and recruit new users. They now have begun reading your mind about what you are trying to search and present you with instant gratification! Thus the name of this new Google search enhancement is Google Instant Search.

For example, if you begin a search with "w," the search will immediately begin to display weather in anticipation that you are looking for weather information. At the same time the search box lists other popular searches that begin with w--walmart,whitepages, etc--below your search as other options to search. When I started to key in library, it took 4 characters "libr" before Library of Congress appeared. Disappointing.

Reviews of Google Instant Search that you may like to check out are:CNETWiredEngadget

In 1943 a body washed ashore off the coast of Spain carrying falsified intelligence documents designed to convince the Germans that Allied forces planned to invade Greece and Sardinia rather than Sicily. The successful execution of this clever ruse, code named "Operation Mincemeat," is the subject of this entertaining nonfiction spy thriller.

The national bestselling author of "Biggest Brother" presents this new account of World War II heroism. Alexander follows the footsteps of the men who made up the elite reconnaissance unit that served as General MacArthur's eyes and ears in the Pacific War.

Roosevelt's Secret War : FDR and World War II Espionageby Joseph E. Persico Joseph Persico has uncovered a hitherto overlooked dimension of FDR's wartime leadership: his involvement in intelligence and espionage operations. Roosevelt's Secret War is crowded with remarkable revelations: -FDR wanted to bomb Tokyo before Pearl Harbor -A defector from Hitler's inner circle reported directly to the Oval Office -Roosevelt knew before any other world leader of Hitler's plan to invade Russia, just to name a few.

In a style more resembling thriller fiction than history, Virginia-based military historian O'Donnell, who specializes in World War II espionage, tells how several friends whohad escaped Germany trained with the US Army for some months, then went to the Alpine Redoubt heavily fortified area in Austria to spy for the Allies.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

It's almost that time of year again! No, not "back to school" - it's "Banned Books Week," September 25th through October 2nd, 2010. According to the American Library Association's (ALA) Office of Intellectual Freedom, which created the event, BBW "...highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States."

The ALA's website has a Calendar of Events set to take place across the country to commemorate the week. One of the most impressive is "Read Out! Chicago" (Saturday, September 25 from 12-2), where renowned children's author Chris Crutcher "...will host authors of the ten most challenged books of 2009, as they read from their work and share their experiences as targets of censors."

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

We reference librarians are often excited by what's available in our databases. We know how much is available in these databases, so we know how underused they are. I guess it's because Google seems to provide all that there is. Or maybe, it's the name: databases. Can you think of a less inviting name? As reference librarians, it's our job to answer questions and provide information. So we're leery about getting info from random web sites and we can't just give up if Google doesn't come through.Take one of our newer databases for example: A to Z the USA. The database compiles tons of information about every state and county in the country. Everything from ballet companies to crime statistics; energy resources to license plates. In the gazetteer section you can locate every beach, cave, cliff, rapids, swamp and 60 other geographical features. Included are human-made features like churches, bridges and mines and some lesser-known destinations like aars, benches, pillars and guts. Fortunately, all terms are defined. Each listing includes latitude and longitude and a link to Google maps. (The database is accessible from home to Wellesley residents--a library card is needed.)--RL

Thursday, September 2, 2010

The American, in theatres today, is directed by Anton Corbijn and stars George Clooney. The movie is based on the novel A Very Private Gentleman by Martin Booth.

Never Let Me Go, directed by Mark Romanek, stars Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan, Charlotte Rampling, and Sally Hawkins. The movie is based on the book of the same name by Kazuo Ishiguro and due in theatres on September 15.

The Town, directed by Ben Affleck, stars Ben Affleck, Jon Hamm, Blake Lively, and Jeremy Renner. The movie is based on the book of the same name by Chuck Hogan and is due in theatres on September 17.

The Social Network, directed by David Fincher, is due in theatres October 1. Based on the book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich, stars include Joseph Mazzello, Rooney Mara, Rashida Jones, Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake.

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf, directed by Tyler Perry, is based on the play of the same name by Ntozake Shange and due out in November. Stars include Janet Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg and Phylicia Rashad.

Blood of Ambrose, James Enge (Pyr)The late Emperor's brother-in-law and murderer, Lord Urdhven, appoints himself Protector to his nephew, young King Lathmar VII and sets out to kill anyone who stands between himself and mastery of the Empire. (Fantasy)The Red Tree, Caitlín R. Kiernan (Roc)Sarah moves to rural Rhode Island to finish writing her book after her friend takes her life. There's something sinister about the house, and she discovers that a prior owner committed suicide while researching a book about the supernatural folklore of New England. Exploring the basement, Sarah discovers his manuscriptand soon finds herself in a living nightmare centered on a mysterious red oak tree in the house's yard. (Fantasy)The City & The City, China Miéville (Macmillan UK/ Del Rey)Inspector Tyador Borlú must travel to Ul Qoma to search for answers in the murder of a woman found in the city of Beszel. "An existential thriller"--NY Times (Sci Fic)Finch, Jeff VanderMeer (Underland)In a world where mysterious underground dwellers rule the state of Ambergris and control its residents with addictive drugs, internment camps and random acts of terror, John Finch and his partner, Wyte, must solve a double murder for their oppressive masters, all while trying to make contact with the scattered rebel resistance. (Sci Fic)In Great Waters, Kit Whitfield (Jonathan Cape UK/Del Rey)Set in the past, with a twist, "In Great Waters" features a race of mer-people--men and women who have evolved to live in the oceans--that protects the coast of each country against attacks from the others. (Sci Fic) SH